Michael Fowler
Registered User
I tried to piggy-back this onto another thread, but maybe it needs its own place, so here it is.
After arriving at the IDI ralley, I noticed that oil pressure had dropped from its customary 40 psi hot, at speed, to about 15, with the hot idle reading under 5psi. I removed the (new) copper tubing from the rear of the gauge to see if there might be air in the line like there was a few weeks ago when I replaced the original plastic tubing with the copper. Well, there was air, plenty of it. In fact, a continuous stream of air bubbles.
This puzzles me.
I cannot think of how air can get into a pressurized oil system. Therefore I am inclined to think it must be coming in before the oil pump. That means, the pick up. in the oil pan.
I WIL NOT drop the oil pan with the engine in the truck (ever again). So it looks like I will be pulling the engine to investigate.
Is my reasoning sound? Is there another possible source for air in the oil stream?
Thinking a little out the box.....Has anyone cut a hole in the bottom of the oil pan to access the pickup? Some of you might remember air-cooled Volks Wagens had a large plate on the bottom of the oil pan. Would something like that work?
After arriving at the IDI ralley, I noticed that oil pressure had dropped from its customary 40 psi hot, at speed, to about 15, with the hot idle reading under 5psi. I removed the (new) copper tubing from the rear of the gauge to see if there might be air in the line like there was a few weeks ago when I replaced the original plastic tubing with the copper. Well, there was air, plenty of it. In fact, a continuous stream of air bubbles.
This puzzles me.
I cannot think of how air can get into a pressurized oil system. Therefore I am inclined to think it must be coming in before the oil pump. That means, the pick up. in the oil pan.
I WIL NOT drop the oil pan with the engine in the truck (ever again). So it looks like I will be pulling the engine to investigate.
Is my reasoning sound? Is there another possible source for air in the oil stream?
Thinking a little out the box.....Has anyone cut a hole in the bottom of the oil pan to access the pickup? Some of you might remember air-cooled Volks Wagens had a large plate on the bottom of the oil pan. Would something like that work?